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Rotary Club continues flag fundraiser

The Pataskala Rotary Club placed a large flag at the city's Veteran's Green, and it would like to help the city add more flags through its annual Flags Over Pataskala fundraiser.(Photo: Chad Klimack/The Standard)Buy Photo

PATASKALA - Every summer in the lead up to the Fourth of July, the city flies flags on its main thoroughfares, including sections of Broad Street and Main Street.

The Pataskala Rotary Club helps ensure the city is able to continue the patriotic tradition through its Flags Over Pataskala fundraiser.

"Our goal (through the fundraiser) is to try to raise money to help the city replace its (old flags) and buy (additional) new ones," said Rotary Club member Dana Moore, director of the Licking County Family YMCA's Western Branch.

Pataskala currently flies around 100 flags, and it works to replace them when they became weather worn. The city also is trying to add additional flags to fly in new areas, including along sections of Taylor Road and around Columbia Center.

Through Flags Over Pataskala, the Rotary Club attempts to raise money in different ways.

One way is through sponsorships.

Individuals, families and businesses can purchase sponsorships ranging from $200 to $700.

The Rotary Club offers perks with each sponsorship level. A $200 sponsorship, for example, features promotional recognition. Two-hundred-dollar sponsors also get their names placed on a sponsorship banner and recognition at two community events.

In addition to the sponsorships, the Rotary Club also organizes a benefit golf outing.

This year's outing is scheduled to kick off at 8 a.m. June 16 at Broadview Golf Course, with proceeds going toward Flags Over Pataskala.

Moore said the club enjoys seeing the money it raises each year applied to patriotic purposes.

Pataskala Mayor Mike Compton agreed.

"(The Rotary Club) has really stepped it up over the last couple years," Compton said. "They're doing (Flags Over Pataskala), but they've also adopted one of our parks, Karr Park, and they purchased a new flag and flag pole (for the Veterans Green)."

The Rotary Club used funds from Flags Over Pataskala to purchase the new pole and flag, Moore said.

"All the money that comes in (from the fundraiser) goes back to the patriotic support of our community," she said.

While ensuring flags fly around Pataskala in the lead up to the Fourth of July remains the Rotary Club's main focus, the club is offering something new this year.

It is partnering with the city and the non-profit group that operates the historic Sterling Theater on the first-ever Celebrate Pataskala community event.

The event will start at 4 p.m. June 11 at the Veteran's Green.

A traditional flag-raising ceremony will take place at the Main Street site before the crowd moves down the street to the former Pataskala Town Hall for the theater's 100th-birthday celebration. As part of the celebration, the city is closing down a portion of Jefferson Street, and there will be family-friendly games, a bounce house and an ice cream social. Then, at 7 p.m. the theater will screen the classic film "Singing In The Rain."